Switch-operating mechanism.



No. 678,276. .Patented July 9, 1901. u..-s. POOLE.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1901.

(No Model.)

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No. 678,276. Patented July 9, mm. H. E. POOLE. SWITCH OPERATINGMECHANISM.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

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To aZZ whom it may concern.-

may be thrown from a moving car and to pro- UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWITCH-O PERATI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters NG' MECHANISM.

Patent No. 678,276, dated July 9, 1901.

7 Application filed February 14, 1901. Serial No. 47,285- (No model.)

Be it known that I, HARVEY E. POOLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switch-OperatingMechanism, of which, the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of switch-operating mechanismfor street-railways; and the objects of my invention are to provide amechanism whereby a switch-tongue duce certain improvements in detailsof construction and arrangements of parts, which will be more fullypointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the mannerillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a planView of a portion of a street-railway, showing my improvement inconnection therewith, the cover-plate of the operating mechanism beingbroken away for the sake of clearness in illustration. Fig. 2 is asectional view on line am; of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view in" elevation ofthe lower end of the contact-rod which depends from the car. Fig. 4 is aview in perspective of the upper end portion of the operating-lever.Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the operating mechanism, showing a portionof the switch-tongue. Fig. 6 is a view at right angles with that shownin Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 12 z of Fig. 6, showingthe operating-lever in its vertical position; and Fig. 8 is a detailview, partly in perspective and partly in section, showing a portion ofthe switch-tongue and its depending pin.

Similar numerals refer. to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents one of the outer rails of a railway-track, on the innerside of which is provided the usual channeled switch=tongue-supportingplate 2.. Upon thisswitch-tongue plate is pivoted within its wider endin the usual manner the rear end of a switch-tongue 3, this tongue beingprovided in its forward portion with a downwardly-extending pin 4, whichpasses through a transverse slotted opening 5 in the plate 2 and dependswithin an excavation beneath said plate 2, said excavation extending, asshown, on the outer side of the track-rail. WVithin the pit or exarms ofthe other.

their positions.

cavation thus formed is supported a suitable casing or framework 6, andwithin the latter is journaled horizontally in suitable standards 7 ashaft 8. On the outer portion of this shaft and adjacent to one of thestandards 7 is carried a comparatively .small ratchetwheel 9, bearingupon the periphery of which is the toothed end of a curved pawl 10, oneend of which is pivoted to the adjoining standard 7. On the inner sideof the wheel 9 I provide a larger ratchet-wheel 11, which is also fixedon the shaft 8. Loosely embracing the wheel 11 and loose on the shaft 8are the arms of a bifurcated operating-lever 12,which through the mediumof a spring 13 is connected with the inner side of the casing 6 andnormally retained in an inclined position at one end of a longitudinalslot 14, formed in the upper side of a street-plate 15, which covers thecasing 6. The operating-lever 12 is provided on its upper side with apivoted spring-actuated pawl 16, the lower end of which is supported inthe path of and adapted to engage successively with the teeth of theratchet-wheel 11.

In its inner portion the shaft 8 is provided with radially-arrangedprojecting arms, of which there are preferably four, as shown. Thesearms consist of outer and inner bars 17 and 18, the arms of each pairextending from opposite sides of the shaft 8 and the arms of one pairextending at right angles with the Upon each of the arms 17 and 18 ismounted a substantially triangular cam-body 19, the longer sides of theangle formed thereby being curved, as indicated in the drawings. Asshown, the cam-bodies 19 of the arms of each pair are reversed in Whenthe switch-tongue is in the position indicated in Fig. l --that is,adjoining the rail 1=the depending pin 4. of said switch-tongue projectswithin the path of the curved sides of the inner cams 19. In order tooperate my improved switch-throwing mechanism, I provide theplatform 20of a car with a downwardly-extending contact pin or rod 21, which,passing loosely through the floor of the car, has its lower end portionnormally elevated above the pin of the operating lever 12 through themedium of a spring 22, which bears between the head of said pin and theplatform-floor. In constructing the com tact-pin 24 I preferably formthe lower end thereof of the substantially stirrup shape indicated at 21and shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and this stirruptermination maybe provided in its lower portion with a journaledfriction-roller 21 As indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the upper endportion of the operating-lever may in order to more readily deflect thewheels of vehicles be of a substantially triangular form incross-section.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the upper end of the operating-levernormally projects but slightly above the level of the trackrail. Inorder to illustrate the operation of my device, I will assume that theswitchtongue 3 has its point thrown into connection with the rail 1 inthe manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which position saidtongue will serve to change the course of the car-wheels from the rail 1to the switch-rail 25, and I will also assume that it is desired tocontinue the wheels of the car upon the trackrails 1. As the carapproaches the switch the motorman or car-operator depresses thecontact-pin 21 until its lower end portion is in position to engage theprojecting end of the lever 12 and force the latter over to the oppositeside of the casing Q through the slotted opening 15. Owing to theengagement of the pawl 16 with one of the teeth of the ratchet 11, it isobvious that the shaft 8 will be partially rotated in its bearings,together with the radial arms 17 and 18. This movement of said arms 17results in the curved face or edge of one of the cam-heads 19 cominginto contact with the outer side of the switchtongue pin 4; and in thelatter being forced inwardly until the switch-tongue is out of contactwith the rail 1, thus providing a clear track for the coming car-wheels.As the lower end of the contact-rod 21 loses its engagement with theoperating-lever it is obvious that the spring 13 will operate toimmediately return said operating-lever to its normal position. In thislatter operation the shaft will be prevented from reversed rotationthrough the slipping of the pawl 16 over the teeth of the wheel 11 andthe engagement of the pawl 10 with a tooth of the wheel 9. It beingdesired by the operator of the next succeeding car moving in the samedirection to run onto the switch-rail, the operating-lever is thrown inthe manner above described, with the result that one of the cams 19 ofone of the shaftarms 18 has its curved edge brought into contact withthe switch-tongue pin and the latter is forced toward the rail.

From the construction and operation described it will be seen thatsimple and reliable means are provided for throwing the switchtongue ofa railway-switch and that the parts are so arranged and constructed asto insure a positive operation thereof.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with railway-trackrails, a pivoted switch-tongue and a depending tongue-pin 4, of a shaftjournaled beneath the trackway, inner and outer sets of arms on saidshaft, cam-heads on said arms each having a curved edge portion and alever extending from said shaft and adapted to contact with a projectionfrom a car-platform, substantially as specified.

HARVEY E. POOLE.

In presence of- C. G. SHEPHERD, W. L. MoRRoW.

